Improved mode of propelling railroad-cars



S. G. RANDALL. MODE 0F PROPELLING RAILROAD CARS.

Pate'ntedMayjZS, 1865.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

S. G. RANDALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED MODE OF PROPELLING RAILROAD-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 47,858, dated May 23,1865.-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, S. G. RANDALL, of No. 203 Elm street, in the city,county, and State of N ew York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Propelling Railroad-Oars; and I do hereby declare thatthe followingis a .full, clear, and exact description thereof, whichwill enable others skilled in the art to m we and use the same, eferencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, formi-lg part of thisspecification, in which-- Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of thisinvention, the plane of section being indicated by the line .10 39, Fig.2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, the line 3 3 Fig. 1indicating the plane of section. Fig. 3 is a detached elevation of thesliding plug.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention consists in the employment or use of a pipe extendingunder the railroad- ;track and provided with anumber of outlets atsuitable intervals along theflline, in combination with a movingreservoir attached to or connected with apassenger-car, and furnishedwith suitable mechanism for propelling itself and the car in such amanner that through the pipe compressed air can be introduced into thereservoir at any point on the road, and the car can be supplied with acheap and reliable motive power. 1

A represents a passengercar constructed in any suitable manner andarranged-to run on a railroad track, B- A pipe, at, extends parallel tosaid track, either between it or on its side, and either above orbelow/the ground, as may be most convenient, and this pipe connects witha stationary reservoir conta'ning compressed air. It (the pipe) isprovided with a number of outlets or spouts, b, at suitable intervalsalong the line, and through th esc spouts compressed air is introducedinto the movable reservoir 0. This reservoir-'-which, of course, must beair-tight-is either made separate, as shown in the drawings, or it maybe arranged in one end or at the bottom of the car, if desired. It isprovided with a sliding plug, a, which is fitted airtight into asochet,d. 1 By pushing this plug down, its lower end -.can be introduced intoone of the spouts a of theair pipe, and a passage, e, in the plug andsocket admit the compressed air to the interior of the movable reservoir0. It is obvious, however, that the connection between the airpipe a andthe movable ,reservoir may be effected in various difierent ways, and Ido not wish to confine myself to the particular means above described,but reserve the right to change the same as circumstances may dietale.

Y The movable reservoir is furnished with two cylinders, the pistons ofwhich connect. with the crank-axle of the driving-wheels D, so that byadmitting the compressed air to the cylinders a rotary motion isimparted to said' crank -axle and the reservoir and car are propelled.The mechanism for propelling may, however, be changed, and a rotaryengine or any other suitable apparatus may be substituted for the pairof cylinders shown in the drawings.

'The reservoir 0, in moving with the car,

can be supplied with compressed air by means.

M. M. Livrnesron.

in the manner and for the'purpose set

